Project Three: Technical Writing Portfolio

Eric Fairclough
Salt Lake Community College
ENGL2100
November 29, 2016

Eric Fairclough
859 s 700 e
Salt Lake City, UT 84102
Nov 21, 2016
Hiring Manager
ARUP Laboratories
Salt Lake City, UT 84102
Dear Hiring Manager,
I am thrilled to be applying for the Medical Laboratory Technician role in your
company. It is clear that youre looking for an enthusiastic applicant that can be
relied upon to fully engage with the role and develop professionally in a selfmotivated manner. Given these requirements, I believe I am the perfect candidate
for the job.
I am a detail-oriented college student (4.0 GPA, Pre-Health Sciences) currently
attending Salt Lake Community College. During the course of my academic
career, I have also managed to accrue nearly 10 years of professional work
experience. Most recently I had the privilege of working for American Express in
a Fraud Protection Specialist role, where I learned valuable professional skills
such as multi-site call center management, conflict resolution, and data collection
and analysis. In both my academic and professional life, I have been consistently
praised as focused and detail oriented by my professors and peers. Whether
working on academic, extracurricular, or professional projects, I apply proven
organizational, technical, and interpersonal skills, which I hope to leverage into
the Medical Laboratory Technician role at your company.
After reviewing my resume, I hope you will agree that I am the type of positive
and driven candidate that you are looking for. I am excited to elaborate on how my
specific skills and abilities will benefit your organization. Please contact me at
801-979-5373 or via email at fairclougheric@gmail.com to arrange for a
convenient meeting time.
Thank you for your consideration, and I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely,
Eric Fairclough

Table of Contents
Cover Letter...... 2
Technical Description of an Optical Microscope... 4
Technical Instructions for Preparing a Bacterial Smear 6
ARUP Laboratories: The Science of Culture.. 7
Fireworks: Tradition or Poison?......................................................................... 16
Resume 20

Technical Description of
an Optical Microscope
The Optical Microscope, often referred to simply as a
Light Microscope, is a type of microscope which uses
visible light and a system of lenses to magnify images
of small samples for scientific research.
This description will identify the different optical
configurations of an optical microscope as well as the
parts of the microscope.
Optical Configurations:
There are two basic configurations of a conventional
Optical Microscope:
Simple Microscope: A microscope that uses a lens or
set of lenses to enlarge an object through angular magnification alone, giving the viewer an erect enlarged
virtual image. These microscopes are not capable of
high magnification.
Compound Microscope: A microscope which uses
a lens close to the object being viewed to collet light
which focuses a real image of the object inside the
microscope. That image is then magnified by a second
lens or group of lenses that gives the viewer an enlarged inverted virtual image of the object. This type
of microscope allows for a much higher magnification.

Figure 1. Optical Microscope by user GcG(jawp). Source: Wikimedia

Commons. (2008). Retrieved December 2016 from www.commons.
wikimedia.org

Major Components:
All modern optical microscopes share the same basic components of the light path. (Numbered according
to the above image)

Eyepiece (ocular lens) (1)

Objective turret, revolver, or revolving nose piece (to
hold multiple objective lenses) (2)
Objective lenses (3)
Focus knobs (to move the stage)
Coarse adjustment (4)

Fine adjustment (5)

Stage (to hold the specimen) (6)
Light source (a light or a mirror) (7)
Diaphragm and condenser (8)
Mechanical stage (9)

Eyepiece (oculor lens):

The eyepiece, or ocular lens, is a cylinder containing two or more lenses. Its function is to bring the image into focus for the viewers eye. The
eyepiece is inserted into the top end of the body tube. These are interchangable and there are many different eyepieces that can be inserted
with different degrees of magnification (typical magnification values
would be 5x, 10x, 15x and 20x).
Objective Turret (revolver or revolving nose piece):
The Objective turret, revolver, or revolving nose piece is the part that
holds the set of objective lenses. It allows the user to switch between
objective lenses.
Fig 2. Objective lenses. Source: wikimedia
commons.(2011) Retreived December 2016
from www.commons.wikimedia.org

Objective Lenses (Fig 2):

Objective Lenses are located at the lower end of a typical compound
microscope. These lenses collect light from the sample. Usually there
will be around 3 different objective lenses on a microscope, screwed
into a circular nose piece which may be rotated to select the required
objective lense. These arrangments are designed to be parfocal, which
allows the image to remain in focus when the viewer switches between
lenses.
Objective lenses are characterized by two parameters, namely, magnification which ranges from 5x-100x, and numerical aperture which
ranges from 0.14 to 0.7.

Focus Knobs (course and fine adjustments):

These knobs move the state up and down. These knobs enable the microscope to adjust specimens of different thickness.
Stage:
adf The stage is a platform below the objective which supporst the specimen being viewed. There is a hole in the center of the stage through which
the light passes to illuminate the specimen.
Light Source:
Fig 3. Condenser by user TamasFlex.
Source: Wikimedia commons. (2009).
Retrieved December 2016 from www.
commons.wikimedia.org

Most microscopes have their own adjustable and conrollable light source,
often a halogen lamp.
Condenser:
The condenser is a lens designed to focus light from the illumination

Technical Instructions for

Preparing a Bacterial Smear

Figure 1. Inoculating loop on slide. (ND). Source: Collin College. Retreived on December 2016 from http://iws2.collin.edu/
dcain/CCCCD%20Micro/Bacterial%20smears.htm

Because most bacteria has no color, they generate little to no contrast in the microscope field.
Therefore, to see bacteria with the microscope, it
is necessary to apply color by using a staining reagent.Once stained, the bacteria may be observed
and studied with respect to their shape, size and
arrangement.
The preparation of a stained bacterial smear involves several steps that will be outlined below.
Materials:

Pure Cultures of selected bacterial species

Glass Microscope slide
Wax marking pencil
Inoculating loop

Preparation Steps:
1. Using an Inoculatin loop, place a very small loopful
of deionized water on the glass slide.(Note: if bacterial smear is being made from a broth, no extra fluid
is needed. Simply place a loop or two fo the broth
on the slide and spread)
2. Flame the loop using a bunson burner. Cool, and
touch the loop to the colony or slant growth. Now,
place the contaminated loop into the drop of water
on the slide.
3. Use large, circular motions to spread the drop to
about the size of a quarter over the glass slide.
4. Reflame the loop
5. Before continuing to step 6, be sure that all the liquid on the slide has evaporated. (if liquid remains,
you will explode the cells in the next step, and the
slide will be useless.
6. Heat fix the slide (to kill and attach the organisms to
the slide) by rapidly passing it through the flame of
the bunson burner three times, with the smear side
up. Avoid touching the hot glass by using a slide
holder.
Multiple samples:

Figure 2. Heat Fixed Bacterial Smear. (nd). Source: RMIT University, Melbourne Austrailia. Retreived on December 2016 from
http://rmit.edu.au/toolbox/Laboratory/test301A/unitIndex.htm

Thes above instructions explain how to create one

sample per slide. With practice it will be more effecient
to put multiple samples on one slide. If you are creating
multiple samples on one slide, use a smaller drop of
water and less liquid culture for each, and ensure that
there is enough space to keep the samples from mixing. Spread samples to the size of a nickle rather than a
quarter.

ARUP Laboratories: The Science of Culture

Eric Fairclough
ENGL 2100
October 9, 2016

Abstract
This report covers the organizational culture and writing styles of a career as
a Medical Laboratory Technician. Specifically, this report covers the culture of ARUP
Laboratories and the influence that their culture as a company has on the writing
that is produced as a medical lab tech working for them. Using online resources,
such as the company website for ARUP, and also a personal interview with a current
long-time employee of the company, the information obtained gives an insight into
the life of a medical laboratory technician and the benefits of working for this
particular lab. In addition to exploring the benefits and culture of the company, this
report will also take a look at the technical types of writing performed as a medical
laboratory technician.


Introduction

The purpose of this report is to explore the organizational culture of ARUP
Laboratories, and how that culture influences the writing that is produced within
the company. ARUP Laboratories is one of the worlds largest medical testing
laboratories in the world and employs thousands of people in the state of Utah,
mainly medical laboratory technicians. This report will introduce ARUP and their
company, what they stand for, and what it is like working for them as a lab tech.
Using this information, I will also look at the styles and types of writing that are
often used in the day-to-day operations of the company.



The organizational culture at ARUP is one of respect and professionalism. As
a company, they truly care for and respect their employees and their clientele alike,
and make it known that they strive to be the best they can for both. They offer many
wonderful benefits to their employees and their families; these incentives are a big
reason why there are so many long tenured employees at the company.



Due to the fact that ARUP is a laboratory environment, most of the writing
produced as a laboratory technician at the company comes in the form of medical
reports. These reports are very specific to the work that is done in the Medical
Laboratory Testing field and often contain a lot of technical information, as well as a
lot of scientific analysis of the specific test results that you performed. These reports
are used for medical diagnosis of diseases and treatment, so reports produced by
the lab technician MUST be accurate and concise, as they directly impact patient
care provided by health care providers all over the country.


Methodology
Below I will discuss how I went about collecting my information and how I
conducted my research into the organizational culture and styles of writing at ARUP.
Internet Sources
Most of the information that I used for research was obtained directly from
ARUPs website. I was able to find a lot of information about the company and their
history on their website. Through the About ARUP page, I was able to explore press
releases, a blog that is run by the company entitled ARUP Blog: Magnify, and other
resources to gain an overall understanding of the companys organizational culture. Also
on the company website, I was able to find sample laboratory reports and tests as well as
a policy document discussing dress code; these sample reports and policy papers give
great incite into the types of writing produced at this company. In addition to ARUPs
website, I also utilized Wikipedia to understand the history of the company better.

Personal Interview
As part of my research into the culture at ARUP Laboratories, I interviewed a
professional Medical Laboratory Scientist, Marcus Wright, who has worked for ARUP
for over a decade and is currently a supervisor in the blood bank. Marcus was able to
provide a first hand look into the company and what it is like to work for them on a dayto-day basis. The information provided by him is invaluable and gives a great look into
the company from personal experience.

Results
The Five Pillars of ARUP Culture
ARUP is committed to providing the highest quality laboratory services to its
clients while maintaining a culture of trust and respect for employees. The interview that
I was able to conduct with Marcus Wright was very helpful; he was kind enough to share
the five pillars of culture that the company has outlined (personal communication,
September, 2016). The five pillars of ARUP culture reflect the day-to-day application of
ARUPs core values, mission and client commitment statements.
I.

II.

III.

IV.

Providing Excellent Patient Care By Supporting Clients

Put the patient first
Support clients
Openly share experiences and expertise with others, and support, even
applaud their success
Create A Good Working Environment
Treat people with mutual respect and support, both inside and outside the
organization.
Set high expectations for self and others
Show compassion, appreciation, courtesy, and civility
Whenever possible, make decisions through consensus.
Develop and reward individuals and teams.
Delegate, empower and develop trust.
Create and maintain a safe, satisfying work environment.
Emphasize balance in life: work, wellness and family
Do The Right Thing
Be fair in all dealings
Do the right thing, not necessarily the easiest or most popular
Be honest and lead with integrity
Comply with the law
Improve Continuously
Set challenging but achievable objectives for self and departments.
Keep professionally current and educate others.
10

Take initiative and ownership of issues: be available, responsive, and

accountable. Provide service to others before self; admit mistakes and
expeditiously take corrective action.
Act Responsibly
Practice fiscal responsibility.
Commit to high quality and professional excellence
Balance the business needs of ARUP with the educational, academic mission
of the University of Utah.
Hire the best applicants; train them; support them.

V.

Benefits and Incentives

ARUP takes care of its employees and has a record for long tenure. Sitting at
the bottom quartile in the lab industry for turnover rate, ARUPs employees often
cite the benefits package as one of the main reasons for staying with the company
(APA, 2006). Below are some of the many benefits offered by ARUP:


Health: As an employee of ARUP Laboratories, you are taken care of by the
company in ways that most other organizations dont offer. One of the biggest
benefits you can expect as an employee is the free onsite full service primary care
health center. This primary healthcare service is extended to your dependents as
well, which means free health care for employees and their families. Some of the
services offered at this healthcare center include immunizations, chronic disease
management, pediatric care, women and mens health, orthopedic, dermatologic
care, minor procedures, and many other areas of preventative care. (ARUP, 2016)


Financial: During my interview with Marcus Wright, he was able to provide great
incite into the financial benefits you are awarded as an ARUP employee (Personal
communication, September 2016). These benefits include: 401k, quarterly bonuses,
competitive pay, tuition reimbursement, as well as random occurrences of surprise
bonuses where they walk around and hand out envelopes filled with cash.


Work/Life Balance: When you start working for ARUP, you immediately get 17
days of paid time off (PTO), increasing each year until it maxes out at 30 days off per
year. The company recognizes 8 paid holidays each year. They also have an onsite
caf. ARUP even pays up to $2,000 annually in adoption benefits. (ARUP, 2016)

Writing styles



As a Medical Laboratory Technician, most of the writing that one can expect
to perform on a day-to-day basis will be technical writing in the form of medical
reports. After testing samples provided by the patient, the report is written to
communicate the findings to the primary care provider or specialist that is caring
for them. The information provided on these reports is used to diagnose and treat
medical conditions and diseases, frequently including recommendations for

11

treatment, so it is of upmost importance that they are accurate and professional.

(See Appendix A)



In addition to these reports, one can also expect to communicate via email
with various clientele and individuals within the company. These emails are used to
convey important information regarding the day-to-day operations of the company.
The writing contained within these email communications is professional and
courteous, similar to most office or professional white-collar environments.

Discussion of results



Anyone that plans on working for ARUP can expect to be treated fairly and to
be championed for his or her success and respected for his or her contributions. The
environment of the company is warm and inviting and welcomes individuals that
want to be challenged and encouraged to mature in the field of medical laboratory
testing, while offering plenty of opportunity for change and promotion.



Looking at the results provided above, it is clear that there are plenty of
benefits and incentives that, as an employee of the company, are very enticing and
intriguing. The culture of ARUP laboratories is clearly shown to be one of respect
and recognition of the individuals that work for them. ARUP cares for the health and
well being of their employees and families alike, and that can be seen through the
many benefits they provide from day one. Whether it is the free health care
provided onsite to employees and their families, or the generous amount of time off
the company provides each year, or the not so common benefits of envelopes of cash
and adoption assistance, ARUP goes above and beyond to show the employees who
work for them that they are more than just a number.



In addition to the benefits they provide to the employees of the company, and
the message they send to their employees that they care, ARUP also makes it clear
that their clients are their top priority, as can be seen in the very first pillar of their
Five Pillars of Culture. The clients that work with ARUP can expect to be treated
with professionalism, accuracy, and respect. Employees are expected to be
professional and accurate and to constantly set high expectations for themselves
and their coworkers. This type of environment produces quality results and helps
keep employees to a higher standard of work.



The writing one can expect to perform while on the job is not writing that
would be considered typical for most individuals. The writing itself is very much
influenced by the technical aspect of being a lab technician and requires a formal
education and background in biology and science. The technical information used to
perform your job and create the appropriate reports used at ARUP is specialized for
this field of work and therefore something that needs to be learned through
schooling and training provided by the company. ARUP prides themselves on the
training they provide to each and every employee, which ensures accuracy and

12

reduces errors in reporting test results company wide. They also encourage their
employees to share information and stimulate learning amongst their peers.



As with most professional white collar working environments; the written
communication between coworkers and clients is professional and to the point. The
information communicated between employees and clients via email is usually
important and time sensitive, so the writing needs to be accurate, grammatically
correct, and professional.

Conclusion and Recommendations



In conclusion, ARUP is a great place to work, and offers countless benefits for
their employees and loved ones. In fact, its hard to find many negatives about the
culture of this company. With that said, they take very seriously what they do for the
patients and clients that need accurate and timely information about their health.
ARUP is a professional work place that holds their employees to a high standard.
They will train each employee whether internal or external extensively to ensure
that they are getting all of the information they will need to meet these high
standards. If you are able to successfully meet these standards and perform well as
an employee you will be treated very well and they will ensure that all of your needs
are taken care of to the best of their ability.



Being that these standards are in place and expected to be met as an
employee, it is my conclusion that the writing styles and genres that I will be
performing as a medical laboratory technician are very technical and professional.
The medical laboratory industry is a specialized industry that requires an education
and a background to know how to effectively communicate the information needed
on the job. After obtaining this education, it is up to me to perform the functions of
the job as accurately as possible and to communicate this information through my
written reports provided to the patient and their doctor. The information provided
to the doctors must be objective and right to the point to ensure that the patient is
getting the proper care to treat their medical issues.



My recommendations to myself will be to continue my education and
prepare myself as best as I possibly can to learn and retain all of the technical
information required of me to be a successful medical laboratory technician. After I
obtain a degree in medical laboratory sciences, my goal will be to gain employment
at ARUP Labs, where I look forward to contributing to the culture of their company.

13

References
American Psychological Association (APA). (2006). Physcologically Healthy

Workplace Awards and Best Practices Honors. Washington, D.C. Retrieved

from https://www.apa.org/pubs/info/brochures/phwa-2006.pdf
ARUP Laboratories. (2016). About ARUP. Retrieved from

http://www.aruplab.com/about.
ARUP Laboratories. (2016). Benefits
Summary. Retrieved from

http://www.aruplab.com/about/careers/benefits
ARUP Laboratories. (2012). Maternal Screening, Sequential, Specimen #2 sample

report.
Retrieved from

http://www.aruplab.com/files/resources/genetics/0081294_Normal
0912.pdf

14

Appendix A
Sample Maternal Screening, Sequential, Specimen #2 report.

Enhanced Report

ARUP LABORATORIES | 500 Chipeta Way, Salt Lake City, Utah 84108-1221
phone: (801) 583-2787 | toll free: (800) 522-2787 | fax: (801) 584-5209

www.aruplab.com

Maternal Screening, Sequential, Specimen #2

Accession number:
Patient name:
Date of birth:
Age:
Gender:

Collection date:
Received in lab:
Completion date:

Physician name:
Client ID:
Client name:
Client address:

Patient Information Used in Risk Calculations:

Marker

Measurement

MoM

Maternal Age at Delivery:

34.5

AFP

30 ng/mL

0.79

Estimated Due Date:

03/31/2013

hCG

15000 lU/L

0.83

Gestational Age at Draw:

17 Weeks 6 Day(s)

uE3

1.30 ng/mL

1.04

Maternal Weight:

160

Inhibin A

200 pg/mL

1.23

Maternal Race:

White

PAPP-A

2000 mlU/L

0.82

Number of Fetuses:

Singleton

NT

2.00 mm

1.27

Family History of Neural Tube Defects:

No

Family History of Aneuploidy:

No

Patient is medication-dependent diabetic:

No

Sonographer Name:

Crown Rump Length :

7.00 cm

Sonographer Cert #:

Interpretation:
Open Neural Tube Defects

Normal
Risk before test:
Risk after test:

Cut-off for single fetus 2.5

900
10000
0.1

Down Syndrome

Risk before test:

Risk after test:
Trisomy 18

10

Normal

Cut-off: (1 in 110)

350
9000

Normal
Risk before test:
Risk after test:

Cut-off: (1 in 100)

3500
10000
1/100000

Comments:

1/10000

1/1000

1/100

1/10

1/1

Assuming the patient information listed is correct, this maternal serum screen is within normal limits. The interpretation is based on
maternal age, nuchal thickness, gestational age, maternal weight, the presence or absence of insulin requiring maternal diabetes,
maternal race and the number of fetuses, if known.
This is a screening test for Down syndrome, trisomy 18 and open neural tube defects. It will not detect all cases of these disorders, and
its ability to identify other chromosome disorders has not been established.
The PAPP-A test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by ARUP Laboratories. The U.S. Food and Drug
Administration has not approved or cleared this test; however, FDA clearance or approval is not currently required for clinical use. The
results are not intended to be used as the sole means for clinical diagnosis or patient management decisions.
Risk estimates determined using Integrated Test Technology under license from Intema Ltd, UK

ARUP Enhanced Reporting | September 27, 2012 | page 1 of 1

An enterprise of the University of Utah and its Department of Pathology

15

Fireworks: Tradition or Poison?

BOOM! Fireworks - a treasured national past time in our country, or a toxic manmade threat to our wellbeing? We gather each year in city parks, in sports stadiums, and
in neighborhoods all over the country to give into our pyro side and shout oohs and
awes at the colorful explosions, celebrating not only our nations independence, but also
a happy new year, and in our case as Utahns, Pioneer Day. While fireworks may have
become a staple in our lives for several holidays here in the states, there is a serious
health concern associated with these celebratory explosives. A concern that cant simply
be ignored.
We willfully pollute our air each and every year and sacrifice our health and our
environment in the process. Most cities throughout the state of Utah, for instance, hold a
firework show in a park attended by thousands and thousands of onlookers. These
onlookers are directly exposed to and surrounded by the poisonous air these fireworks
shows create. While this issue is not isolated to any state or city in particular and is in fact
a problem worldwide, I will be exploring the air pollution and health concerns in relation
to fireworks in the Salt Lake valley specifically.
I suppose a good starting point would be too look at the air quality in Salt Lake
City to compare what would be considered good air quality and what would be
considered bad air quality. Everyone that lives in Salt Lake City is well aware of the
winter inversions we get each year. That tasty looking blanket of filth that covers the
entire valley in deadly air is the main cause of unrest for most of the residence in the city.
Lets compare our winter inversion air quality to the EPA standards for Fine Particle
Pollution, or PM2.5 particulates, which are particles that are less than or equal to 2.5
micrometers in diameter.
The EPA (US Environmental Protection Agency) has established both annual, and
daily standards for PM2.5 particulates, also known as the National Ambient Air Quality
Standards. On average, the daily concentration of particulates should not exceed 35
micrograms per cubic meter (Whiteman). According to the Salt Lake City Department of
Air Quality (DAQ), during the winter inversions, we experience a huge spike in the
concentrations of PM2.5. During these winter inversion spikes, we average around 60-70
micrograms per cubic meter of these particles.
These particulates can cause some serious health issues because they can pass
through the nose and throat, lodge deeply in the lungs, and pass across the lungs into the
cardiovascular system. For residence with existing asthma or bronchitis, these particles
will aggravate the already present issue and increase respiratory symptoms such as
coughing, wheezing, or shortness of breath. PM2.5 can also aggravate existing heart
conditions such as congestive heart failure and coronary artery disease. (Winter
inversions: what are they?)
So if we look at the information above, we can see that the air we breathe into our
lungs during the winter inversions is on average about double the daily EPA standard for

16

PM2.5 particulates. It is a universally accepted fact within Salt Lakes population that the
inversions are awful and unhealthy, but the amounts of these same particulates that are
also associated with fireworks may be surprising to some people. If we are already
collectively concerned about our health and environment when it comes to the winter
inversions, I believe that we need to also take a serious look at fireworks; the pollution
that they cause is very similar to the pollution we complain about during the winter
inversions. Lets take a look:
Last year (2015), DAQ monitors recorded short-term 1-hour average
concentrations as high as 157 micrograms per cubic meter of PM2.5 on the night of July
fourth. So in looking at this information, we can see the enormous spike in particulates in
the air during the times of day that most people would be lighting their fireworks off in
the valley. This is a much higher concentrated amount of particulates, albeit a much
shorter amount of time, but this is just a snapshot of the bigger issue. In just a 1-hour
window, the particulates average is increased by nearly 350% of the EPA standard.
In a news release issued by the Utah Department of Environmental Quality
(DEQ), the state reminds us of the impact of fireworks on our air quality. Bryce Bird, the
director of DAQ says, Every year we see significant spikes in particulate matter
concentrations on July 4th (Department of Environmental Quality). According to the
DAQ, on Monday July 4th 2016, in Salt Lake County, the average PM2.5 fine particulate
concentrations were recorded at a soaring 204 micrograms per cubic meter for the day, a
shocking 482% higher concentration than the EPA daily standard. (Penrod) Technically,
we are breathing in roughly about 3-4 days worth of winter inversion pollution during
this 24-hour stretch of time, because of fireworks, which is alarming.
We are shooting these particulates into our air and casually ignoring the side
effects and the consequences. We pack up our families, head out to the park with the rest
of the city to cheerfully breath in clouds of toxins that wreak havoc on our health and our
beautiful state. For us to better our own health, and the health of our environment, it is of
utmost importance to find a way to curb the use of fireworks in our celebration. While
mine may not be the most popular opinions, I will be exploring my own ideas on how we
can make this happen, and what we can do to stop the use of fireworks in Salt Lake City.
At first glance, my solution is a fairly simple one. First, I would introduce a bill to
effectively ban the sale of fireworks throughout the state. This would basically eliminate
any way to get fireworks in the state. Second, I would introduce a ban on the use of
fireworks in the state, which would make it illegal for anyone to use fireworks,
punishable by fines for first offenders with increasing penalties for repeat offenders.
Lastly, and most importantly, I would introduce a bill that would allocate the funds used
for city sponsored fireworks displays in each city to go towards research focused on
improving the air quality year-round in our state. The general public would not really be
happy with parts one and two of my proposed solution, but with some work and some
facts I believe many people could be convinced that this is the best option if we truly
want to better our air quality. It is with the last step of my solution that I think most
people would be on board with, creating solutions to our air quality problem instead of

17

creating health issues and exacerbating existing conditions for ourselves and our loved
ones.
Most individuals view fireworks as a past time, as something that has always been
part of their life, so taking the ability to enjoy fireworks away from residents of Salt Lake
City may not be the most popular solution, but it is truly the only solution that will solve
the issue of pollution caused by them each year. In my humble opinion, we as a city need
to view the problem with less of an attachment to the tried and true traditions of the past,
and view it as a health crisis for our future generations. Yes, traditions are very special to
us as a people and a nation, but not breathing in poison should be the one prevailing
argument, in my opinion. Cancelling city sponsored firework displays and outlawing the
use and distribution of personal fireworks is the one and only solution to completely
solve the issues presented to us when we invite these particulates into our bodies.
City sanctioned fireworks displays should be the first to go, as they are the easiest
problem to address. I believe the benefits of cancelling city sponsored firework shows are
more than just improved health. Take for instance the money each city can save by
eliminating these shows; Salt Lake City alone would save close to twenty-five thousand
dollars a year if they didnt have to put on their firework shows at Sugarhouse Park and
Liberty Park for July 4th and 24th celebrations. Salt Lake City could be using this money
to better improve our air quality and environment year round instead of compounding the
issue even further. Its disgusting to know that we are breathing in such unhealthy air as
Utahns, and I believe most of us would be ok with the cancelling of these fireworks
shows if we were presented with a plan to use those same funds to improve the overall,
year-round, air quality in the state. We can be using these funds to research better ways to
handle winter inversions and innovate new solutions to rid us of this major problem
which effects our state in many ways economically in addition to the already mentioned
health and environmental concerns.
While convincing the general population of the benefits of cancelling the city
sponsored firework displays may be somewhat easy to do; convincing them that they
cant use fireworks for their own personal use may be a bit more difficult. I think the
most convincing argument for most people would be to outline the health issues that are
being introduced to their children each time they are lighting fireworks. I feel that most
people would respond and agree to the ban of fireworks if they were presented with the
facts about the particulates they breathing in while using or watching fireworks.
The problems I have presented in regards to fireworks and pollution are problems
that are entirely man-made; therefore, the solution to these issues is a very attainable one.
If we can only disconnect our strong feelings of tradition from the very real health
concerns we are creating, we can effectively eliminate this issue entirely, and with my
solution, we can even improve upon our existing air quality problems by using the same
money to nurse our environment back to health, as opposed to feeding it poison.

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Works Cited
Department of Environmental Quality,. Fireworks And Wildfires Impact Utah's
Summer Air Quality. 2016. Web. 29 July 2016.
Penrod, Emily. Holiday fireworks fueled spikes of unhealthy pollution in Utah. The
Salt Lake Tribune. Web. 29 July 2016.
Whiteman, Dave. "PM2.5 In Salt Lake Valley". Home.chpc.utah.edu. N.p., 2016. Web.
29 July 2016.
"Winter Inversions: What Are They And What We Can All Do To Help". Ci.slc.ut.us.
N.p., 2016. Web. 29 July 2016.

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Eric Fairclough
801-979-5373 fairclougheric@gmail.com
I have ten years of exceptional customer service experience, displaying a positive natural
charm and charisma. I demonstrate strong, dynamic leadership skills by communicating
effectively through developing positive relationships with business partners and clients.
My professional experience shows my ability to work with and relate to customers,
clients, and potential candidates to improve and sustain business processes to drive
strategic business goals.
American Express Account Protection Specialist

Process knowledge expert. Helped mentor and train incoming training classes.
Helped cardholders with fraud concerns, including identity theft. Maintained
cardholders trust by effectively communicating clearly and concisely. Helped
calm cardholders nerves by calmly explaining how I could clear their concerns.
Maintained strict metrics and accomplished set goals to create a personal brand
that allowed me to excel within my account protection specialist function, and
become a top performer for Q1 in 2014.
Proficient in using Microsoft office, Internet Explorer, Outlook, SSP, Legacy, and
Triumph computer programs in my everyday duties.

Elggren and Peterson P.C

Collections Specialist/H.R Generalist

October 2011-November 2012

Developed standard work processes for company operation policies, asset

recovery, and communication updates for clients.
Create profit reports for attorneys and partnered with lead attorney to set new
profit goals each month
File lawsuits, judgments, garnishments, and other legal documentation
Ensure FDCPA regulations including confidentially of client information and
debtor credit and financial history
Kept track of all payments made to our office, managed files.

Ebay, Inc Trust & Safety Representative

June 2013-Current

November 2010-October 2011

Monitored member listings to ensure compliance and policy

Investigate fraudulent items and remove listings which infringe on copy write
laws

Education

Salt Lake Community College

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